Alongside has been working hard for a long time to close the circle. And to be able to give a better life to all those single-use plastics that we rescue during our beach clean-ups.
Because everyone deserves a second chance, and so do single-use plastics!
After a long journey and thanks to Re:Objeto's know-how, this is now a reality. In December 2021 we are launching the first earrings made from plastics collected from the sea by our community.
What is the transformation process from waste to slopes?
The first step is to obtain the raw material, which in this case comes from PP and PHD plastics from the beach clean-ups organised by Alongside and other waste generated by our community, such as caps from all types of packaging.
Once we have this plastic waste, it is cleaned and sorted according to its colour and composition. It is then shredded into tiny plastic flakes.
Now that we have the ingredients ready, it's time for action. We set up the plastic injection machine, which in this case consists of a funnel in which to introduce the crushed plastic and a tube with a heating element. As the plastic goes down the tube, it will melt until it reaches the mould where it will be injected under pressure. In a pasty state, the plastic is distributed throughout the mould in the final shape we want to obtain. Once cooled, the injected plastic hardens. At this point, the mould can be opened, giving rise to the rebirth of a new object with a long life ahead of it.
Finally we pierce the pieces of plastic to be able to insert the clasp of the earrings and they are ready to be worn hanging from your ears.
What else can we do with plastics from beach clean-ups?
This plastic injection technique allows us to make all kinds of objects. Although it has its limitations, and due to the high cost of the moulds, it is usually used to make small objects. From Alongside we are already thinking about new opportunities such as making key rings, buttons...